Grocery Store Closure Could Pose Problem for Vets in Long Beach

The Ralphs grocery store in the 5700 block of east 7th Street is expected to close its doors in about three weeks.

The closing of a grocery store in Long Beach could end up posing a problem for vets being treated at the VA Medical Center nearby.

The Ralphs grocery store in the 5700 block of east 7th Street is expected to close its doors in about three weeks. The store is located near one of the busiest intersections in Long Beach, right across from the VA hospital and near California State University Long Beach.

"There’s a lot of people who come in," shopper Ron Parque said. "You look in the morning, you'll see a lot of people coming in with their wheelchairs , and I’ve even seen them come over in a gurney."

Many patients of the VA hospital, especially those who are wheelchair-bound, depend on that Ralphs store and may not have means to get to another grocery store

"This is much more convenient because if you notice I’ve got crutches and I’m very slow, I have severe problems," VA patient Terry said.

A spokesperson for Ralphs told NBC4 the store is closing because it has been underperforming for many years. The spokesperson says all 60 employees at that Ralphs store will be transferred to other stores in the area.

There is another Ralphs grocery store about two miles away.

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